You don’t have to look far for heroes

Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 10:54 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 10:54 a.m.

It was a lovely weekend. Several of us met at the home of one of my sons in Metairie, where we also got to see my grandson’s newly redecorated home.

Craig loves his home. This is my grandson who has muscular dystrophy, holds down a job, has a wonderful work ethic and has a sense of humor you wouldn’t believe.

Craig’s been in a wheelchair most of his 33 years, but he loves shoes. He likes to joke about his shoes, and I kid him about them. The number of pairs of shoes he owns doesn’t come close to the number owned by Imelda Marcos, but once I almost referred to him as a male Imelda Marcos.

She is reported to have said, “You know, not even your British queen is called Elizabeth — she’s Elizabeth the Second. There’s only one Imelda.”

And to me, there’s only one Craig — my grandson. I have so many children, in-law children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that some names come up more than once in the family, but Craig is not among them. So, I can truthfully say there is only one Craig. And what a great guy he is.

Years ago, when Craig was still in school (he’s a college graduate now with a degree in some area of management — having never gone to college, I have no idea about college degrees), his dad was principal of the high school he was attending when a couple of the tough kids at school asked him if his dad was as mean as they thought he was. Craig’s answer, as he sat as erect as he could in his wheelchair, “Look at me, I used to be able to walk.”

I don’t think his dad ever had trouble with those guys. Craig is such a funny fellow. He laughs at himself a lot. He has loads of friends who also think he’s pretty special. You can’t help but admire a guy like him. He’s confined to a wheelchair, but he got an education, looked for and landed a good job, and although he can do almost nothing for himself, and needs help with the most basic of human needs, he smiles a lot and enjoys his job.

He not only enjoys his job, he enjoys life. If anyone would ask me at this instant in time who my ideal real-life person is, I’d say Craig. He’s a good example of a hero, as far as I’m concerned.

In at least one way, I am not only his grandmother, I’m his heroine. He says I’m the best hamburger maker. That is what I call big praise. He considers a nice gift from me is a stack of hamburger patties, ones I make myself, either frozen or ready for the freezer. If that isn’t a compliment, what is?

Many years ago, Craig and I had decided to co-write a cookbook. Due to his disability he doesn’t cook, but he knows ingredients and how to put them together to make a tasty dish. He would have told me what the ingredients were and in what amounts, and I would have written them down and prepared them for a meal. The cookbook was the next logical step.

I thought it was a great idea, but then he went to work at a “real” job and this “fantasy” of putting together a cookbook was relegated to the back burner, so to speak, and it still sits there today, waiting for the day we’ll get off our duffs and do something about making it a reality.

In the meantime, Craig is having the time of his life doing a fabulous job where he is employed in a responsible position at a well-known New Orleans hospital. He is a living and breathing example of what anyone can do if they have the courage and the drive to do it. In spite of the odds he’s had to fight all his life, he has succeeded in living a full and exciting life without feeling sorry for himself.

Way to go, Craig.

Irene C. Michel, a native of Terrebonne Parish, is a columnist for The Courier and Daily Comet. She can be reached at 876-3252 or ICMwriter84@gmail.com.

<p>It was a lovely weekend. Several of us met at the home of one of my sons in Metairie, where we also got to see my grandson's newly redecorated home. </p><p>Craig loves his home. This is my grandson who has muscular dystrophy, holds down a job, has a wonderful work ethic and has a sense of humor you wouldn't believe.</p><p>Craig's been in a wheelchair most of his 33 years, but he loves shoes. He likes to joke about his shoes, and I kid him about them. The number of pairs of shoes he owns doesn't come close to the number owned by Imelda Marcos, but once I almost referred to him as a male Imelda Marcos.</p><p>She is reported to have said, “You know, not even your British queen is called Elizabeth — she's Elizabeth the Second. There's only one Imelda.” </p><p>And to me, there's only one Craig — my grandson. I have so many children, in-law children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that some names come up more than once in the family, but Craig is not among them. So, I can truthfully say there is only one Craig. And what a great guy he is.</p><p>Years ago, when Craig was still in school (he's a college graduate now with a degree in some area of management — having never gone to college, I have no idea about college degrees), his dad was principal of the high school he was attending when a couple of the tough kids at school asked him if his dad was as mean as they thought he was. Craig's answer, as he sat as erect as he could in his wheelchair, “Look at me, I used to be able to walk.” </p><p>I don't think his dad ever had trouble with those guys. Craig is such a funny fellow. He laughs at himself a lot. He has loads of friends who also think he's pretty special. You can't help but admire a guy like him. He's confined to a wheelchair, but he got an education, looked for and landed a good job, and although he can do almost nothing for himself, and needs help with the most basic of human needs, he smiles a lot and enjoys his job. </p><p>He not only enjoys his job, he enjoys life. If anyone would ask me at this instant in time who my ideal real-life person is, I'd say Craig. He's a good example of a hero, as far as I'm concerned.</p><p>In at least one way, I am not only his grandmother, I'm his heroine. He says I'm the best hamburger maker. That is what I call big praise. He considers a nice gift from me is a stack of hamburger patties, ones I make myself, either frozen or ready for the freezer. If that isn't a compliment, what is?</p><p>Many years ago, Craig and I had decided to co-write a cookbook. Due to his disability he doesn't cook, but he knows ingredients and how to put them together to make a tasty dish. He would have told me what the ingredients were and in what amounts, and I would have written them down and prepared them for a meal. The cookbook was the next logical step. </p><p>I thought it was a great idea, but then he went to work at a “real” job and this “fantasy” of putting together a cookbook was relegated to the back burner, so to speak, and it still sits there today, waiting for the day we'll get off our duffs and do something about making it a reality.</p><p>In the meantime, Craig is having the time of his life doing a fabulous job where he is employed in a responsible position at a well-known New Orleans hospital. He is a living and breathing example of what anyone can do if they have the courage and the drive to do it. In spite of the odds he's had to fight all his life, he has succeeded in living a full and exciting life without feeling sorry for himself. </p><p>Way to go, Craig.</p><p>Irene C. Michel, a native of Terrebonne Parish, is a columnist for The Courier and Daily Comet. She can be reached at 876-3252 or ICMwriter84@gmail.com.</p>